YANGON—Travelling north from downtown Yangon, the urban landscape gradually grows a greener buffer, buildings become more modest and the pace of life seems slower. On one tree-lined street in North Dagon Township, we enter a small green plot with a pretty, two-story building looking onto rows of green leaves, small crops, polytunnels and a smattering of marigolds.
A Kokkoya farmer stands among the crops. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy
Caity, the Australian lady who co-founded Kokkoya Organics, emerges from behind a laptop on the ground floor of the "treehouse" as voices of workshop participants emanate from upstairs.
Kokkoya is an urban farm on a quarter of an acre operating as a social enterprise training a staff of young women and growing organic vegetables for sale to the local market through a community supported agriculture (CSA) system. Caity co-founded the farm with Mandalay-native Sophia, in September 2017.
Community-supported agriculture means subscribers pay a monthly, seasonal or annual fee which supports the farm and both reaps the benefits of a strong harvest and bears the brunt of a bad harvest while allowing the farmers a stable income and a reliable market.
"We find members who subscribe for a month of vegetables. People are very understanding and are part of the community that really understands the farm. Even if something bad happens, we'd still have money coming in that month," said Caity.
Through experimentation and adaptation, the farm has been able to grow organic vegetables, fruit, herbs and microgreens year-round, focusing on fast-growing organic crops with good market prices. Currently there are pumpkins, eggplant, okra, ginger, rocket and roselle as well as some microgreens which are bagged and delivered to or picked up by around 30 subscribers weekly.
Subscribers' understanding is imperative for the success of the project: most consumers are used to getting any produce they want, year round, but as Caity says, "this actually how we are meant to eat—with the seasons." The community is growing as we approach winter, the peak growing season, with 30 subscribers in September, 40 in October and a projected 50 monthly from November.
An example of the contents of a subscriber’s weekly veggie box. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy
"It is challenging [for subscribers]: instead of shopping for whatever you want, you are given the best that we have that week, all on one day. People need to be a bit flexible and creative in how they plan meals. But the reward is you get the most beneficial vegetables."
Kokkoya also works to support other small organic farmers by incorporating their produce in veggie boxes. They can use their brand and membership plan to connect the farmers with the right market.
The process of establishing an organic farm has taken a lot of physical effort, patience and trial and error. Unlike many farms, Kokkoya produces crops year-round, dealing with new challenges every season: during the monsoon season, the soil was washed out so they had to build polytunnels. Fungus grew on crops that couldn't dry out. Pest attacks can ruin crops at any time of the year. But Caity isn't fazed.
"It's a process of researching, trying things out, testing and adapting and sometimes it works. We are constantly learning and getting better at it, slowly," Caity said. "We've done a lot of experimenting!"
From country to country and person to person, standards for 'organic' vary vastly and Myanmar is no different. While the government does have definitions for organic certification, it largely applies to crops grown in bulk for export. Kokkoya produce is organic because Caity and her female farmers don't use any chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, even organically-certified ones on the crops. In fact, the only thing sprayed at Kokkoya is water.
"We're not really interested in being certified and this is why we are in the city—we want people to connect with the farm and the farmer who grows their food. We feel we are certified because we know our consumers, we sell directly and there is a trust. They can come and check our farm at any time."
The farm has received criticism from some of their more purist observers: their use of plastic tunnels to defend the crops from monsoon downpours was once a source of criticism; someone else said that the farm couldn't be organic because it is located in an urban area; while another person said wearing rubber boots on the farm is an un-organic practice. But Caity is unwilling to take advice from anyone who has not tried organic farming here for themselves.
Crops grow inside temporary polytunnels providing protection from the harsh monsoon rains. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy
The soil on the farm is essential for the success of Kokkoya's crops and is treated like a living ecosystem. It is not dug up or exposed in order to keep the worms and microorganisms and preserve a balance in the ecosystem.
"Plants come and go quickly but the soil will always be there," Caity said. "We treat soil as a living, breathing city and we protect it as best we can and give it what it needs."
Meanwhile, indoors, such a project replies hugely on non-farming elements like marketing, business development and, to Caity's distaste, a huge amount of administrative work.
"You can't just grow beautiful radishes. You need to have a market and people who buy them."
As a social enterprise, Kokkoya is not only about farming, but also training and educating people on organics. Workshops and events held on the farm are an important source of income for the project. The 'Monsoon Workshops' series brought people to the farm to learn about aquaponics, permaculture, healthy meal planning, hygiene and apartment gardening. The ongoing 'Good Supper' series has brought award-winning chefs and experts in veganism, superfoods and organic poultry to those gathered in the treehouse.
Youths from Ayeyarwaddy Region attend a workshop at the Kokkoya Organics farm on Thursday. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy
When not in the vegetable beds, farmers Nilar, Catherine and Khu Pawe get training to help develop a wide range of skills like marketing, business development and English. In fact, the end goal is for these three farmers to be able to develop their own program or a farm similar to Kokkoya in their own communities.
Currently, organic farmers in Myanmar lack good advice and technical support, and good organic seeds are difficult to find. An added challenge is that farming practices vary hugely from region to region. Part of the objective of the project to use the results of the team's tireless research, experimentation and trails and errors to create a database of information to make it easier for others in the future.
Challenges aside, however, Caity feels grateful to be able to work on a beautiful farm on a project she and the others are passionate about. At the end of the day, the rewards of running an organic urban farm in Yangon are simple: it's that first sign of a sprouting green.
"One of the most rewarding things is growing food and every time a new seed comes up, it makes all the failures and tests worth it," said Caity.
She recalls the highlight of the project which came late last year after just a few months of growing when the team was able to deliver the first veggie boxes:
"That was after two months of pushing, and hoping and not knowing if it would work. Sending out those first veggies was the biggest high."
Another example of a subscriber’s weekly veggie box. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy
Community members can sign up to a subscription to receive deliciously natural vegetables weekly and support the farm through the Kokkoya Organics website. The organic goods can also be bought at Yangon Farmers Market which takes place on Saturday mornings in Karaweik Garden at Kandawgyi Lake.
An exciting schedule of workshops and other events at the farm is updated regularly on the website and the Kokkoya Organics Facebook page. The Farm Tour and Farm to Brewery Tour, which finishes with craft beer tasting at nearby Burbrit Brewery, are fantastic, alternative activities to experience in a green slice of Yangon. However you get involved, you're helping Kokkoya to promote healthy growing practices and spreading the organic love.
"Our main aim and goal is to have more organic farming in Myanmar and so we will always try to help others grow organically and help educate customers to buy organic, and support the farmers."
Kyaw Kha: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week we'll discuss whether it is time to end multi-level marketing (MLM), which the government recently banned. I'm The Irrawaddy chief reporter Kyaw Kha and I'm joined by Lower House MP U Aung Kyaw Kyaw Oo, the first lawmaker to have urged Parliament to abolish MLM, and Ko Zin Zin Lwin, who has been educating the public about the disadvantages of MLM.
The government has banned MLM, saying it is not appropriate for the public. U Aung Kyaw Kyaw Oo, you were the first lawmaker to urge Parliament to abolish MLM. Can you tell us briefly why you submitted the proposal?
Aung Kyaw Kyaw Oo: I often received complaints from the people about MLM. So I asked a question about it in Parliament. A complaint letter from a Bago resident made me raise the question in Parliament. She said MLM had almost ruined her life. So it aroused my interest and I studied MLM.
As I live in Yangon, I studied MLM products sold to Yangon residents. Most of them are herbal supplements. One of the things I noticed was a pendant that is said to be good for health if worn. I asked the Customs Department about its price. They are $6 each, and [suppliers] officially import them by paying tariffs on the $6. But when it reaches the end user, the selling price is 8000,000 to 850,000 kyats ($502 to $533).
I studied the way MLM products are sold and bought, and I found that the government doesn't get tax from the transactions and the consumers have to pay exorbitant prices for things of little value. Though some pharmaceutical products are certified by the FDA [Food and Drug Administration of Myanmar], many are not. MLM companies import and sell things, and exchange the earnings for US dollar, which flow out of the country. So there is nothing good for the people, the government or the country. I thought it should be curbed, and I asked a question in Parliament.
KK: Ko Zin Zin Lwin, the Commerce Ministry announced an official ban on MLM on Sept. 18. What is your view as an opponent of MLM?
Zin Zin Lwin: MLM companies have existed in the country for more than 20 years. The first MLM companies opened in 1995, 1996. So it has been a long time. Many people have suffered from MLM in various ways. Some suffer financially. They are convinced by the incentives MLM marketers offer and buy large amounts of MLM products. Some suffer only slight financial losses. They only buy as much as they can sell to others. Other costs they have to bear are [transportation] the costs of going to [potential] buyers to sell the products, and the costs to attend [MLM] training classes. But those costs are relatively small.
When [MLM companies] apply for approval from the FDA, they describe their products as herbal supplement. Lately, the FDA released an official statement that [MLM companies] are not allowed to advertise that their products can heal or mitigate particular diseases. But then, along the way, 95 percent of MLM products have advertised that their products can heal or mitigate this or that disease. It is not bad if MLM marketers have legitimately studied human health for years. But the problem is that they sell after they have attended a few training sessions. As a result, many have suffered health problems. For example, some are allergic to particular substances. And we even saw some deaths as a result.
In order to sell their products, some MLM marketers say Western medicine has many side effects. So some patients stop using Western medicine and rely solely on MLM products. Their health deteriorates over time. Those who are on medication for high blood pressures and diabetes suffer most. So they suffer in terms of their health. And MLM has negative impacts on the education of youths.
[MLM companies] give the message to many youths that they don't need to complete their education and can become rich and successful even if they do not graduate. This message is very dangerous, and it should only be given carefully. There is a huge difference between saying "You can be successful if you have such or such qualifications even if you don't have a degree" and "You can be successful even if you don't have a degree." So this distracts youths from education. And they join a community that apparently is very enjoyable. On the surface, it is very enjoyable and exciting, and youths are therefore persuaded by it.
As my profession is teaching, I have more intense feelings about it. After many people have suffered from MLM, I think the government has taken about two years [to handle MLM] cases. Previously, it took action against two or three MLM companies. After you asked about MLM in Parliament in 2016, concerned departments have been investigating MLM. It imposed the ban two years after the anti-MLM campaign was launched. So we believe the government thought a lot before making the decision. I feel that it is the right decision for now.
KK: There are reports that MLM companies will be allowed back by the government to sell directly to customers. Do you think it is likely? We don't even have laws in place to control MLM. There is speculation that MLM may come back officially as a direct selling system despite the ban. What is your assessment of it?
AKKO: There was a call to allow direct selling after MLM was banned.The best thing the government could do is totally ban MLM while the education level of people is still low and information flow is still weak in the country. The time is not yet ripe to allow MLM. It should be allowed back only when the education level of people has improved, there is good flow of information, the FDA can properly examine [MLM products], and there are adequate rules and regulations. It should be allowed only when the government has laws and regulations to can prevent direct selling from reverting to MLM.
KK: Ko Zin Zin Win, many might have bought MLM products. The government banned it abruptly. Those in different levels of MLM might have bought many products. But companies said nothing about whether they will compensate them. What should be done to be fair to them?
ZZW: Companies should be responsible and accountable. They have reaped profits from their work for several years and some companies have reaped profits for more than 10 years. It is reasonable for them to spend from their own pockets and do something for them. They should release official statements and say that they will take back all the [unused] products. In so doing, they should place announcements in newspapers and make sure every member knows about it. Some companies only inform a few people perfunctorily just to defend themselves and make sure we can't complain.
They should make announcements on a wide scale that they will take back the products and also provide the rewards they promised. Some companies reportedly told their members that they don't need to provide rewards because the business is banned by the government. They shouldn't do that. They must provide the appropriate rewards. A few company unexpectedly said they would also compensate their members. It is a big local MLM company. It said so in order to protect its image as it is also engaged in other business. It said it would give three months' worth of bonuses as compensation to its members. So that company is being accountable and responsible.
We have stressed that people suffer [financial losses] not because the government has banned MLM, but because of MLM itself. So MLM companies should take responsibility. In fact they have already got a lot of money from their members. If they are considerate toward their members, they will be less impacted financially.
By nature, Myanmar people are shy and not willing to offend others. Especially those who are overwhelmingly influenced [by the incentives of MLM] may think that those products are great value for money. Such people will not return the products and ask for their money back. But a small number of people may finally see the light, and I hope they will boldly ask for their money back. But it is not easy for them to ask the companies directly. Companies will put pressure on them and hamper the recall process as much as they can. The members will not be able to bear it. They have asked us what they should do, and we tell them to talk directly to those companies. But they dare not. Most of them are concerned that the companies will hold grudges against them. I think the government will soon set up complaint centers regarding MLM. So it would be best for them to file complaints with those centers. The complaint centers will deal with the companies directly, so members need not worry about offending their companies.
KK: Do you think MLM should come back as it is or in a different form, or should it come to an end?
AKKO: Considering the current situation in Myanmar, MLM businesses should cease now. The rule of law is still weak and the judicial branch is paralyzed in the country. And laws are not being properly enforced. Under such conditions, it is impossible to properly regulate MLM businesses. It would be better to completely ban it.
KK: What is your take on this, Ko Zin Zin Lwin?
ZZL: I share the same view. It would be best to ban it given the current conditions. Let's take a look at the top MLM companies in the United States. Amway is the No.1 MLM company in the world and Herbalife is No. 3. They have to release official figures on their total number of members, the number of high-ranking members who have reached particular positions and their average incomes annually.
Taking a look at those figures, we found that at least 80 percent of members fail to cover the costs. In some companies, up to 99 percent of members can't break even. So you can see it is very bad even if it is allowed by law. Though the amount of loss is not that significant for people in [developed] countries like the United States, it is quit huge, I think, in the case of our country.
My point is MLM is a business disadvantageous to people even in countries where laws are effectively enforced. I would compare it to gambling. Legitimizing gambling might have the advantage of creating job opportunities, but its disadvantages outweigh the advantages. So while gambling is not yet legitimized, it is a good idea to ban MLM businesses for the time being.
If the products are really good, they can sell the products as they are, without giving false promises of their health benefits. I want them to clearly state the ingredients of the products on the label to make sure they don’t promise too much. People will notice if the products have labels in Burmese saying they are only intended as health supplements and cannot cure any medical condition. If companies promise too much of their products, they might face complaints later on. So it would be best to cease MLM in Myanmar right know.
AKKO: While the country is being rebuilt and undergoing a democratic transition, the resources of the country should be used only where necessary. Money should be spent only on procurement of technologies and building infrastructure. You will see at the markets and City Mart that there are hardly any locally manufactured products. The only locally manufactured product might be the plastic bag [used to pack imports]. Even fruits and flowers at the markets are imported from Thailand. Beauty products are also imported. If we always have to rely on imports, we will never be able to recover from the current situation. We should not waste our resources on unnecessary and unimportant things. I don't want US dollars to be spent on MLM products.
ZZL: MLM companies claim that there is a market that can't help using herbal supplements. I want health experts to discuss in public whether something can really happen to them if they stop using those herbal supplements, or if their health problems can be solved with Western medicine and scientific methods. Only health experts can convince them. We have locally produced herbal supplements produced by the FAME pharmaceutical company. But the prices of MLM herbal supplements are five times higher than those sold by FAME. So those who say they can't help using herbal supplements have two options. First, they can buy them from the [defunct MLM] companies, though I think the prices will still be high. Or they can use FAME products, whose prices and quality are reasonable. Or they should consult with health experts. They have been overwhelmingly swayed by MLM marketers. I would like to ask the health experts to come and talk for those who can't help using lingzhi, pollen, [weight-loss] coffee and so on. What they say would be much more effective.
CHIANG MAI, Thailand—To resolve the current standoff over the issue of non-secession, observers of the peace process urged the government at a stakeholders meeting in Yangon on Friday to focus its efforts on building a Union whose conditions would make it unnecessary to extract a pledge of non-separation from ethnic groups.
The Myanmar military currently demands that ethnic groups pledge never to seek secession from the Union as a prerequisite for moving ahead with the peace process. Ethnic groups have balked at the request, believing it would put them at a disadvantage as the process moves forward.
"[The secession] issue is a stumbling block, because [Myanmar's military says] that without a pledge not to seek secession, we cannot draft a state constitution. Our suggestion is that instead of asking for this promise, which is merely words on paper, what if we build a Union from which no one wants to separate in the first place?" said U Maung Maung Soe, an analyst who closely follows ethnic and political affairs.
The government invited nearly 40 people to a meeting of stakeholders in Myanmar's peace process and sought their perspectives at Yangon's National Reconciliation and Peace Center on Friday.
It was the second such meeting to be held under the National League for Democracy-led government. The first, in July 2017, was attended mainly by descendants of the signatories of the original 1947 Panglong peace agreement, along with a few other experts.
Friday's discussion was attended by some representatives of Kachin, Shan, Rakhine, Karen and Bamar political parties; civil society groups and think-tanks working on the peace process and related policy; former Myanmar Peace Center employees; and writers and journalists. They spent a day discussing the current peace process and sharing insights. All of the participants were close followers of the peace process.
The secretary of the government's Peace Commission, U Khin Zaw Oo, and State Counselor's Office director-general U Zaw Htay shared details of the government's efforts and the challenges it faces dealing with the country's ethnic armed organizations during peace talks, and offered their views on why the process has been delayed.
"After listening to the government's explanation ofits efforts, I expressed my viewthat we must all think in terms of the whole country's sovereignty, not in terms of individual [groups'] sovereignty, so that we can move forward onthe peace building journey and build a federal state," said U Khin Maung Swe, the chairman of the National Democratic Force (NDF) party.
The 29 participants in Friday's discussion shared their opinions, while the government negotiators were able to clarify some of the misunderstanding that exist regarding the peace negotiations, said U Hla Maung Shwe, an adviser to the Commission.
Some of the invitees, such as former peace negotiators U Aung Min and U Khin Yi, were not able to attend due to schedule conflicts. Others were unable to travel to Yangon.
"Every issue related to the peace process was discussed," U Hla Maung Shwe told The Irrawaddy, though he declined to discuss details.
Among the main hurdles to progress in the peace process are non-secession, prohibitions on the holding of ethnic political dialogues in Shan and Rakhine states, and the absence of negotiations between the government and northern-based ethnic armed organizations, including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
U Hla Maung Shwe said he was glad that Yup Zau Khawng,a leader of the Kachin Peace-talkCreation Group (PCG) based in Myitkyina,was able to participate. The PCG served as a key peace brokerduring talksbetween the KIA and the previous government.
"Such discussions are good if we can spare time for [regular] meetings," he said, because they allow the majority of participants to air their concerns, while the government gets a chance to respond.
Such stakeholder discussions were held frequently under the previous administration of former President U Thein Sein.
YANGON — Superheroes wear colorful, custom-made costumes and fight bad guys, monsters and aliens to save the day with their uncanny powers. The best-known among them —Spider Man, Thor, Captain America, Batman, the Hulk, Superman, Wonder Woman — hale from either the Marvel or DC universes.
Fans of superhero comics and movies truly love the stories and have no doubts that their favorite characters will always prevail. But some aren’t satisfied with just the comics or movies and don their favorite hero’s costume; they love the stories that much.
A local group of talented designers and superhero lovers has started its own online comic label called Myanga, and its series Butman is trending with young fans.
The Butman comic series in print in the Myanmar Times. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy
"The Butman name and style is inspired by DC superhero Batman, but our superhero doesn't have any superpowers," said Kaung Myat Maung, 21, who leads the Myanga team and is one of the character’s creators.
"Actually, it's But….Man. That's the meaning of the hero. Even though he wants to help the city and people, he always ends up with the opposite result. So he tries, but he can't do it on his own. He's just a man."
"The characters are inspired by American comic books but the structure of the stories is inspired by Japanese Manga. Manga means comic in Japanese. So we chose the name Myanga because it’s a comic in the Myanmar language," Kaung Myat Maung said.
Kaung Myat Maung works on a drawing. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy
Butman mixes the serious with the comic, and the team thinks of the series as edutainment — a portmanteau of education and entertainment — because it aims to educate readers about social problems and complex issues with a heavy dose of fun.
"We have a total of 10 members in the team and everyone has their own tasks. I'm the team leader, but the story lines come from our teacher, Ko Nyi Nyi Htwe," said Kaung Myat Maung.
Nyi Nyi Htwe, who also goes by Yangon Bee, is a famous local designer and illustrator behind the Hexagon Creative Academy, a school for young people interested in graphic design and illustration. Kaung Myat Maung was one of his students and went to work for Hexagon after finishing the academy. He and Nyi Nyi Htwe started Myanga as a side-project.
Members of the Myanga team at work at the Hexagon Creative Academy. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy
"Ko Nyi Nyi Htwe gives us the ideas and stories, and I lead the team," Kaung Myat Maung said.
One chapter can take two weeks to produce, sometimes a month.
"It is easy to read one page or one chapter, but it isn't easy creating the characters," Kaung Myat Maung said.
The process started with the drawing team. Their drawings then get filled in with colors and finally sent to the designers.
Butman is Myanga’s second series and has already published two issues, “Rangoon City” and “The Flooded Land.”
In “Rangoon City,” piles of garbage turn into a giant, smelly monster that rampages across the city, sending the hapless populace fleeing in terror. Butman hops into his car to race to the scene, but gets stuck in traffic. The car’s GPS doesn’t work, either, because of a bad internet connection.
Kaung Myat Maung. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy
In “The Flooded Land,” Butman is eating breakfast while watching the news on TV. When the anchor announces that Yangon is about the flood because of a heavy rain, he quickly changes into his costume, a traditional man’s cotton shirt, a longyi for a cape and another around his waist, and slippers. His nemesis again is a monster made of the wastewater and trash in the city’s drains, clogged because of all the garbage people have thrown into the street. If you want to find out whether our hero saves the day, you’ll just have to read the story.
"We're sending a message about society's problems and we hope the audience gets it," said Kaung Myat Maung.
Butman is published online in Burmese and in English in the Myanmar Times’ weekend edition.
Myanga’s first series was “T, The Huntsman” and was inspired by Toot P, a local comic book character popular with young and old alike. T is published online in Burmese and already has three episodes under his belt.
"We are now creating a Myanga application. After that, we will publish all the stories in Burmese, English and Japanese," said Kaung Myat Maung.
"Burmese comic culture has nearly vanished, but the kids and youth still want to read them. So we want to build up the comic culture again," he said.
Hein Htet, 27, an American comic book fan, likes what he sees.
"Myanga is really cool and their ideas are awesome,” he said. “Love that web comic."
YANGON—In its latest attempt to bring to account those responsible for atrocities against the Rohingya, the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday voted to set up a body to prepare evidence for use in any future prosecution brought by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Earlier this week, the rights group Amnesty International (AI) plastered "wanted" pictures of Myanmar military chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing around New York City. The posters read: "Wanted for mass murder – Don't let him get away with it."
The public shaming campaign and the UN vote were the latest in a series of moves intended to ratchet up international pressure on Myanmar's top general for his troops' alleged atrocities against Rohingya in northern Rakhine State. In August last year, nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh to escape security forces' clearance operations. The operations were triggered by a series of attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on police outposts in the area. The Myanmar government has denounced ARSA as a terrorist group.
Since then, Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has faced mounting international pressure. A recent UN Fact Finding Mission (FFM) recommended that he and his subordinates be referred to the ICC for ethnic cleansing and acting with "genocidal intent" against the Rohingya. During a visit to Myanmar two weeks ago, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the international community should consider referring Myanmar to the ICC over its treatment of the Rohingya if those responsible are not tried and held accountable inside the country. This was followed by AI's poster campaign and the UN Human Rights Council vote.
In its relentless lobbying for action against the leadership of the Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) over the Rohingya's plight, the international community appears to be trying to exploit the issue to oust the military from Myanmar's politics. The country's controversial 2008 Constitution enshrines the Tatmadaw's political role by reserving 25 percent of the seats in Parliament for military appointees and handing the military the reins of three security-related ministries.
It's taken for granted that not everyone in Myanmar is pleased with the military's involvement in the country's politics. Over nearly five decades of military rule until 2011, Myanmar's citizens watched the men in uniform turn their country from the most developed nation in Southeast Asia into one of its least developed. That's why the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) continues to push for amendments to the charter that will keep the military out of politics. It has achieved no tangible results so far, due to resistance from the military, but the country's de facto leader, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, said in Singapore last month that "We shall do that through negotiation and step by step, keeping in mind our need for national reconciliation."
On Sept. 24, 2018, the first day of the UN General Assembly, Amnesty International plastered "wanted" posters of Myanmar military chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing around New York City. /Amnesty International
By "national reconciliation", she means establishing sufficient mutual trust with the armed forces to convince military leaders that the government can be entrusted to handle pressing national issues such as the peace process and constitutional amendment.
Is it therefore realistic for the international community to treat the Rohingya crisis—probably the country's most controversial and militarily sensitive issue—as an opportunity to try to force the military out of politics using harsh measures?
"That's wishful thinking and shows a lack of understanding of how Myanmar's military officers think of themselves," said Myanmar expert Bertil Lintner, a Swedish journalist who has covered Myanmar and Asia for nearly four decades.
Lintner said he didn't think Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing had much to fear, as the officer corps was loyal to him and would remain so even after he retires.
"No one is going to hand him over to any international court. And as long as he has the backing of powerful nations like China and Russia, he is safe," he said.
NLD spokesperson U Myo Nyunt said outsiders who attempt to push the military out of politics are taking the wrong approach, as the military has traditionally never kowtowed to outside pressure. History shows how defiant the Myanmar military can be. Examples can be seen in its refusal to hand over power to the NLD after the 1990 general election, as well as its crackdown on the Buddhist monk-led Saffron Revolution, the 11th anniversary of which is marked this week.
"To do so [submit to international pressure] now would be a source of shame to them," he said.
The spokesperson said trying to exploit the Rohingya crisis to oust the military from politics would be counterproductive, as most people in Myanmar stand with the military on the issue.
"Harsh measures would only turn the public against the West," U Myo Nyunt said.
Rather than using pressure, he said, the international community should cooperate with the military to expedite the process of repatriating the Rohingya to Myanmar.
"If they do so, it would be very effective [for the repatriation process]," he said, because only the military has the ability to convince the refugees that it is safe to return.
He is not the only one calling for international engagement. In its recent report on China's role in Myanmar's internal conflicts, the United States Institute of Peace recommends that
Washington consider ways to both apply pressure and appropriately engage the Myanmar military in a way that empowers democratic institutions in Myanmar, moves toward resolution of the Rakhine crisis, and continues the progress of reform inside the country.
Yangon-based political analyst U Maung Maung Soe said the international community, including the UN, should focus more on pressing issues like repatriation, rather than taking action against military leaders.
"What they are doing now is sort of inflaming the military's anger. The more they are getting pissed off, the more difficult repatriation will be," he said.
And the military leadership is showing signs of displeasure. Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing last week rejected Hunt's request for a meeting and would not even allow his deputies to receive the minister. This was a break from the military leader's previous approach of painstakingly explaining the Tatmadaw's view of the Rohingya issue to nearly every international dignitary he met, insisting that his troops had followed normal rules of engagement in Rakhine. Presumably, he sees the U.K. as one of the countries lobbying for his referral to the ICC. Later that week, the armed forces chief warned against foreign interference, saying, "As countries set different standards and norms, any country, organization and group has no right to interfere in and make decision[s] over [the] sovereignty of a country." It was his first public comment on the issue since the UN fact-finding mission released its report calling for the prosecution of Myanmar's military leadership at the ICC.
U Maung Maung Soe expressed concern that the scenario could force the military to cling even more firmly to power—dimming hopes of its exit from politics.
"Even with the power they have now, they are being referred to the ICC. They fear they would be more vulnerable if they have no power," he explained.
For Lintner, the most likely scenario is that Myanmar will remain under military rule for the foreseeable future. If change ever comes, he said, it will have to come from within the military.
But he said that's not likely to happen any time soon, and even less so now while the military is under international pressure. Instead of giving up power, he added, the military will dig in, fortify its defenses even more vigorously and wait for the international criticism and condemnation to die down.
"That's exactly what they did after the massacres of pro-democracy demonstrators in August and September 1988. And it worked then."
NAYPYITAW — Religious Affairs and Culture Minister U Aung Ko said hotels will not have to be moved out of the Bagan Archeological Zone in order for Myanmar to nominate it for approval as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
He said the ministry would submit recently approved amendments to the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage Regions Law to UNESCO, the UN’s culture and heritage body, by February. The amendments seek Bagan's nomination as a World Heritage Site without having to move existing hotels out of the archeological zone or prevent new hotels from going up inside.
Bagan is home to some 3,000 pagodas and temples dating from the 9th to 13th centuries —when the Kingdom of Bagan ruled over much of lowland Myanmar — and is considered Myanmar's main tourist draw, on par with Cambodia's Angkor Wat.
Since 1994, the country has sought to register the area as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But its initial application was rejected for a lack of management plans addressing sub-standard, inauthentic restorations and because of controversial hotel developments in the archaeological zone completed under previous governments.
In 2014 the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture nominated Bagan for a UNESCO World Heritage Site listing again. It submitted the first draft of a new nomination dossier in 2016 and a final version in January.
The ministry says there are now 40 hotels standing or under construction in the archeological zone.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a UNESCO advisory body, recently carried out a ground inspection of the area in order to offer its assessment of Bagan's bid.
"They surveyed Bagan for about 10 days, and they also interviewed hoteliers and local residents. They said we prepared what we stated in the dossier properly and that we passed the test, and that they would present their findings to the World Heritage Committee meeting next year," said U Aung Ko.
ICOMOS has already submitted a 2,000-page report on the pagodas, temples, murals, inscriptions and pagoda festivals of Bagan to the UNESCO World Heritage Center in France.
The 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee will decide whether Bagan should be named a World Heritage Site when it convenes in Azerbaijan in July.
Ko Kaung Myat Min, a souvenir vendor in Bagan, is optimistic.
"There will surely be more visitors if Bagan is listed as a UNESCO heritage site. The more the visitors, the more they will enjoy Bagan," she said.
YANGON — The Yangon regional government is to sign with a Swiss-based company to implement Yangon Innovation Center (YIC), a project that aims to be an innovation and entrepreneurship hub for youth.
Yangon Region's Kayin Ethnic Affairs Minister, Naw Pan Thinzar Myo, one of the government representatives involved in negotiations on the project, said in Parliament on Friday that YIC will target the young people of the city in creating a platform for innovation, nurturing start-ups, emerging entrepreneurship and creating networks between local and international startups.
The government invited tender for the project in January, receiving six bids. The company selected was Swiss-based Seedstars, a company which has experience in entrepreneurship and international startups in 85 countries around the world, she said.
Naw Pan Thinzar Myo said, "We already prepared the contract. We also sent a draft of the contract to the Union Attorney General for his legal advice. We will sign very soon."
Yangon Innovation Center will be implemented at Nanthidar Jetty on Strand Road on the banks of the Hlaing River, also known as Rangoon River, in downtown Yangon. The construction is estimated to measure more than 930 square meters (10,000 square feet).
Naw Pan Thinzar Myo explained that the company will transform the compound of the building into an IT-accessible place for young people by upgrading both the inside and outside spaces.
The Yangon government revealed in 2016 a plan to establish a public waterfront downtown on the banks of the Hlaing River. The area currently has limited public access due to the large number of walled-in compounds of warehouses, jetties and ports scattered along the banks. In April 2017, the government announced its plan to implement the YIC project and began looking for a suitable operator.
According to the draft contract agreement, an initial sum of $20,0000 will be used to upgrade the site. The total budget for the five-year project is expected to be $1.1 million.
"We agreed that the company will hold an entrepreneurial program called Seedstars Academy for youth twice a year. The company will have to invite other external investors for the project as well," Naw Pan Thinzar Myo said.
According to the agreement with the government, she said, the company will have to persuade about 50 Myanmar startup companies to invest in YIC.
The Yangon regional government has said that, as there are more than 10 universities in Yangon which collectively produce thousands of graduates every year, the YIC is expected to be a main source of job opportunities, support youth innovations and access to IT companies.
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has detained 92 Lahu Christian leaders and 42 Wa students in Shan State, and the students have been forced to serve as soldiers, the Christian group said.
Based in northern Shan, the UWSA is Myanmar's largest ethnic armed group.
In a statement dated Sept. 25, LBC (Lahu Baptist Convention) said that 52 churches had been closed and stripped of all Christian symbols. Three other churches were demolished, and religious schools have been shut down, it said. The LBC is based in Kengtung, eastern Shan.
"We sent our statement to [the UWSA], but they haven't replied yet," said Rev. Dr. Lazarus, general secretary of the LBC.
However, contacted after the LBC statement was released, Lashio-based UWSA spokesman Nyi Rang told The Irrawaddy that his organization had detained the group's religious leaders because there were "extremists" among them. In an earlier comment made last week, he told The Irrawaddy that the UWSA's actions against Christian groups in the area were intended to prevent extremist religious leaders from destabilizing the region.
The LBC asked other Baptist groups in Myanmar to pray for the detainees' release.
"We are very worried about our members who have been detained because we have lost contact with them. We heard that when they were taken, they were not allowed to take their clothes with them. The weather in Mong Pauk is cold," Rev. Dr. Lazarus said.
"We heard the UWSA plans to hold the detainees until the group celebrates the 30th anniversary of its ceasefire with the Myanmar government [in April 2019]," he said.
The 42 students are all ethnic Wa, according to Rev. Dr. Lazarus. The UWSA initially detained more students but released those who were not Wa. The 42 students have been pressed into military service by the UWSA, the reverend said.
"We want them to be released as soon as possible. Our Baptist members are all praying for them," he said.
The UWSA has also shut down churches belonging to the Kachin Baptist Convention and the Wa Baptist Convention, according to local sources.
The LBC is based in Mong Pauk Township, which is a majority ethnic Lahu community. There are about 400 churches in eastern Shan, according to Rev. Dr. Lazarus.
The UWSA began ordering churches in the area under its control to shut down earlier this month. It issued an order that all "illegal" churches built without its permission should be destroyed.
According to a Burmese-language translation of a UWSA statement issued in the Wa language on Sept. 13, all churches built after 1992 would be destroyed, as they had been built illegally. Only churches built between 1989 and 1992 were legal, it said.
YANGON — One of Myanmar's largest private banks, KBZ, announced that it would finance the entire restoration of the Secretariat, one of the most prominent historic and colonial architecturally significant buildings in Yangon.
A statement from the bank released on Thursday said the restoration was expected to be completed by the end of the year. It added that the restoration would reimagine the entire venue and create new public and commercial spaces for modern Myanmar citizens to gather, learn about their heritage and reimagine their futures.
The bank didn't disclose the amount of the loan.
U Aung Kyaw Myo, the deputy CEO at KBZ Bank, said the restoration would revitalize not just the immediate area, but also all of Yangon.
"Our shared views on the potential for the Secretariat to contribute to economic and national development were reaffirming. In addition, the developers demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental standards that are in line with our own values and criteria," he said.
Built in 1890, few colonial structures in present-day Burma are as historically important as the magisterial Victorian-era complex located at No. 300 Thein Phyu Road. It served as the headquarters for the British-Burma administration during colonial times. In 1947, Burma's independence hero Gen. Aung San, father of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and his colleagues were assassinated in an upstairs room in the west wing of the complex.
An aerial view of the Secretariat, Yangon, Aug. 2016. / The Irrawaddy
Standing in the center of the Secretariat courtyard is a flagstaff where the flag of a newly independent Burma was first raised on Jan. 4, 1948. After the 1962 military coup, the complex became the Minister's Office. It was used in this capacity until 2005, when it was abandoned as the military regime suddenly made Naypyitaw its administrative capital.
Currently, renovation at the complex is now underway with a Conservation Management Plan commission by the Yangon Heritage Trust, by the Secretariat conservation group run by Myanmar Cultural Heritage Co Ltd, which is collaborating with Anaw Mar Group. The Anaw Mar Group won rights from the Myanmar Investment Commission in 2012 to restore the building's architecture and preserve it as a historical museum and arts and cultural center. The group is owned by family members of former junta general Tun Kyi.
Dr. Maung Maung Thein, director of the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Co. Ltd., said in a statement that it was an honor to be working with KBZ on the restoration project.
"Upon completion, this is a destination that all Myanmar citizens will be proud of and will refer to for generations to come," he said.
MANDALAY — A Buddhist monk accused of defaming Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Facebook turned himself in to police in Mandalay on Friday and was released on bail.
Lieutenant Colonel Myo Khaing Win, who is stationed with the military’s Central Command in Mandalay, filed a complaint with police in Amarapura Township on Sunday requesting legal action against U Thawbita for Facebook posts critical of the military and commander-in-chief.
U Thawbita, who heads the Bawa Alin charity, was away from his monastery in Amarapura when police went to search for him there. The Mahagandaryone monastery expelled the monk on Tuesday, claiming he had abused its rules and regulations.
"The police stormed the monastery by force while I was away and I don't like their manners. I walked into the police station myself to face the accuser," U Thawbita told reporters at the station.
"I'm saddened by the decision of the senior abbot of the monastery to expel me,” he said, adding that the senior monks may have been pressured to kick him out by authorities.
Dozens of monks and activists were at the station to show their support for the monk, who was questioned over his alleged breach of Article 66 (d) of the Telecommunications Act, which covers criminal defamation, and released on bail.
The police will continue to investigate the case and submit a report to the local court, which will decide whether to press charges. Under recent legal amendments, anyone accused of defamation can only be sued by the party the accused allegedly defamed or the party’s legal representative.
U Thawbita denied any wrongdoing.
“What I wrote on Facebook does not defame anyone," he said.
The offending posts claim that Snr-Gen. Min Aung Hlaing may have orchestrated a prison break in Karen State earlier this month, liken the military chief to a cow, and describe the military as more destructive than a natural disaster.
U Thawbita has repeatedly posted messages on Facebook criticizing the military and supporting State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her ruling National League for Democracy party.
YANGON — The Public Accounts Committee of the Yangon Region Parliament has criticized regional government departments for budget miscalculations.
The committee submitted a report and remarks on the 2018-19 fiscal year budget bill on Wednesday, pointing out that there were large gaps between the possible costs and estimated costs in the proposed budget.
According to secretary Daw Thet Htar Nwe Win of the Public Accounts Committee, the departments get about three months to review the proposed budget after the submission of the first draft to Parliament in June.
"Most of the departments failed to calculate their proposed projects in detail, design their projects in advance, conduct relevant surveys on the ground and calculate estimated costs," she said.
State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, according to the report of the Public Accounts Committee, has called for the careful calculation of timeframes, break-even points and cost of projects, adding that failure to undertake feasibility studies could result in unnecessary costs.
According to the findings of the committee, the Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation (YESC) asked for a budget of nearly 1.5 billion kyats for 19 projects, which have already been implemented either by the YESC itself or the Union government.
Moreover, the YESC made some miscalculations in electricity supply projects in the outskirts of Yangon. It overestimated the costs by more than 2 billion kyats in 47 projects and underestimated by more than 650 million kyats in 42 projects.
"It is important that only necessary projects are implemented because the budget is limited, and we have to use it wisely. If the same project is to be implemented in two places, we've suggested giving priority to suburban areas. We have made surveys and found that many [proposed] projects are unnecessary," said Kyauktada Township lawmaker Daw Kyi Pyar.
The Public Accounts Committee also found gaps in budgets proposed by other departments, ranging from 10-100 million kyats.
Yangon regional lawmakers say they are also not happy that the Union Parliament did not scrap a proposed $5 million investment in the Yangon City Bank by the Yangon municipality despite their bitter opposition.
The municipality proposed in June that it would invest the equivalent of US$5 million in kyats in the Yangon City Bank to provide foreign banking services. At that time, the amount was equivalent to 6.8 billion kyats, but with the weakened kyat-dollar exchange rate over the past few months, the amount is now nearly 8 billion kyats.
The Public Accounts Committee called for spending that money on development works of townships in the city if foreign banking is still unnecessary.
"That money should be used for development work instead," Dagon Township lawmaker U Kyaw Zeya told the regional Parliament.
HANOI — A court in Vietnam has jailed a Facebook user for 2-1/2 years over anti-government comments he posted on the social media website, police said on Thursday, as the Southeast Asian country continues its crackdown on dissent.
Despite sweeping economic reform and increasing openness to social change, Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party retains tight media censorship and does not tolerate criticism.
Thursday’s decision comes days after Vietnam jailed another Facebook user for two years and three months on the same charges.
Bui Manh Dong, 40, was convicted of “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state” at a trial in the Mekong Delta province of Can Tho, the Ministry of Public Security said on its official news website.
He was accused of writing posts on his two Facebook accounts that “distorted the guidelines and policies of the party and the state, and defamed party and state leaders,” the ministry said in the statement, citing the court indictment.
Dong’s activities “hurt the prestige and leading role of the party and the state,” police said.
Reuters could not trace contact details for Dong’s lawyer to seek comment. Calls to the court went unanswered.
Facebook’s presence in Vietnam has drawn increasing scrutiny after lawmakers approved a controversial cyber security law for global tech companies to store within the country “important” personal data on users and open offices there.
The law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, also requires social media companies to remove offending content within a day of receiving a request from the authorities.
Facebook already has a direct channel for Vietnam’s Information Ministry to seek the blocking or removal of accounts, content or posts deemed to violate the law.
Many activists have complained about growing blocking of content this year.
Not all the ministry’s requests are met, however, and Acting Information Minister Nguyen Manh Hung this month proposed to set up a working group to improve communications between the government and Facebook.
Facebook did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment.
BEIJING — The Rohingya issue should not be complicated, expanded or "internationalized," China’s top diplomat said, as the United Nations prepares to set up a body to prepare evidence of human rights abuses in Myanmar.
The UN Human Rights Council voted on Thursday to establish the body, which will also look into possible genocide in Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine.
China, the Philippines and Burundi voted against the move, which was said to be supported by more than 100 countries.
Over the last year, more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled the Buddhist-majority country to neighboring Bangladesh following a military response to attacks on security posts by Rohingya insurgents.
The United Nations has called Myanmar’s actions "ethnic cleansing," a charge Myanmar rejects, blaming Rohingya "terrorists" for most accounts of atrocities.
China has close relations with Myanmar, and backs what Myanmar officials call a legitimate counter-insurgency operation in Rakhine. Beijing has helped to block a resolution on the crisis at the UN Security Council.
Speaking to Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali and Myanmar’s minister of the office of the State Counsellor Kyaw Tint Swe in New York on Thursday, China’s State Councilor Wang Yi said the Rakhine issue was a complex, historical one.
"The Rakhine State issue is in essence an issue between Myanmar and Bangladesh. China does not approve of complicating, expanding or internationalizing this issue," Wang said, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement issued on Friday.
China hopes that Myanmar and Bangladesh can find a resolution via talks, and China is willing to continue to help provide a platform for this communication, he added.
"The international community, including the United Nations, can also play a constructive role on this," Wang said.
The statement added that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also attended the meeting, held on the sidelines of a UN summit.
GENEVA — The UN Human Rights Council voted on Thursday to set up a body to prepare evidence of human rights abuses in Myanmar, including possible genocide, for any future prosecution.
The 47-member Council voted by 35 votes to three, with seven abstentions, in favor of a resolution brought by the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
China, the Philippines and Burundi voted against the move, whose backers said it was supported by more than 100 countries.
Myanmar Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun said the resolution was based on the report of a UN fact-finding mission (FFM) that his government had categorically rejected, and which was unbalanced, one-sided and encouraged disunity of the country.
“The draft resolution is based on serious but unverified accusations and recommendations of the FFM that could even endanger the national unity of the country,” he said.
He said the resolution’s intrusive language and demands would not contribute to finding lasting resolutions to the delicate situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
The resolution sets up a body to “collect, consolidate, preserve and analyze evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011, and to prepare files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings."
The new agency is to work closely with any future prosecution brought by the ICC, which said earlier this month that it had jurisdiction over alleged deportations of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to Bangladesh.
A year ago, government troops led a brutal crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in response to attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on 30 Myanmar police posts and a military base. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled the crackdown and most are now living in refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh.
The FFM report said Myanmar’s military had carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya with “genocidal intent” and called for commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and five named generals to be prosecuted for the gravest crimes.
In Thursday’s resolution, the Council said there was enough information to warrant a competent court “to determine their liability for genocide."
Chinese diplomat Chen Cheng told the Council that Beijing opposed the resolution because it was very likely to exacerbate the tensions. “This is in no one’s interest,” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR — A religious court in a Malaysian state ruled by an Islamist party has ordered the jailing and caning of a woman who pleaded guilty to offering sexual services, a prosecutor said on Thursday.
The woman, sentenced under Islamic laws forbidding prostitution, will be the third to be caned in the conservative eastern state of Terengganu, ruled by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), following similar punishments in the past month.
“Even though the offense does not involve a victim, it has a negative impact by destroying societal institutions, introducing sexually-transmitted diseases, and has a bad influence on the youth,” said the prosecutor, Muhammad Khasmizan Abdullah.
The 30-year-old single mother, who was caught by Islamic enforcement officers at a hotel on Sept. 17, had sought leniency, saying she turned to prostitution to raise her child and received no financial support from her former husband.
The court ordered a jail term of six months and six strokes of the cane, however, said Muhammad Khasmizan, adding that the caning would be administered in prison within 14 days.
The woman could not be reached for comment and she was not represented in court.
Muslim-majority Malaysia operates a dual-track legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws applicable to Muslims running alongside civil laws.
Women cannot be caned under civil laws but the punishment is allowed under Islamic laws in some states.
On Sept. 3, two women were whipped six times each in front of dozens of people at a Terengganu sharia court for attempting to have lesbian sex, prompting an outcry from human rights groups, who described the punishment as torture.
A Muslim women’s group, Sisters in Islam, said it was “disappointed” that the Terengganu court had again sentenced a woman to caning.
As a first-time offender, her personal hardship should have been taken into account, said Rozana Isa, executive director of the group.
“Today’s case clearly demonstrates that the humiliation experienced by women before, during and after the whipping is not considered a relevant factor of their pain, when in fact humiliation is a key aspect of the punishment,” she said in a statement.
But the humiliation caused lasting psychological trauma, she added.
The state had merely prosecuted crimes in which the offenders happened to be women, Muhammad Khasmizan said.
“Men are caned if they commit such crimes too, so the issue of gender does not arise.”
